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Fact to Fiction

 

Child 1

 ‘scuse us, mister: but can we really learn how to make ‘fillums’, in

Inst Good question, well done! What’s your name?

Good question, well done! What’s your name?

C Eddie, sir

Eddie, sir

Inst
Polite, too! That’s another point in your favour, young man! And

Polite, too! That’s another point in your favour, young man! And

in answer to your question, we’re certainly going to try and give you

a general background: it’s been done before on tour, you know!

C2(girl) An’ there’s some of us can live without Footie, anyway!

An’ there’s some of us can live without Footie, anyway!

SFX Chorus of catcalls, agreements split c. 50/50 [young voices]

Inst
We’d better make a start: interesting, you seem to be split down the

We’d better make a start: interesting, you seem to be split down the

middle for and against the football and roughly the same boy/girl.

That’s a good way in! Because before you start making a programme,

you have to know if anyone’s interested in watching it on TV, or

listening to it on the radio - in some respects it’s even more important

with radio programmes. We call this Market Research ..... [FADE]

Scene ii

 

Ch3 Mum, I’m bored! Why is the queue so long?

Mum, I’m bored! Why is the queue so long?

Mum I don’t know, Marie: it’s the football, I suppose!

I don’t know, Marie: it’s the football, I suppose!

Marie But that’s not until this afternoon!

But that’s not until this afternoon!

Mum Maybe people want to get home before the match starts: also,

Maybe people want to get home before the match starts: also,

the game’s being shown on the Big Screen outside this shop.

Marie I’m hot, Mum: can I have one of the lemonades, please?

I’m hot, Mum: can I have one of the lemonades, please?

Mum
Yes, I suppose that’ll be alright: but keep the tin to show at the till: it still

Yes, I suppose that’ll be alright: but keep the tin to show at the till: it still

has to be paid for, you know!

Marie D’you think people are buying snacks and things to drink while they

D’you think people are buying snacks and things to drink while they

watch the match outside, Mum?

Mum
Nobody’s supposed to drink beer and such on the streets - they’ve

Nobody’s supposed to drink beer and such on the streets - they’ve

made a point of reminding us of that for some time now! - but I don’t see

how anyone can stop so many people doing that, if they decide that’s

what they’re going to do!

[SFX: hostile, savage crowd noises & chanting, eg. "Inger-land" etc]

Sounds of breakages, etc, escalating shouts, increasing rapidly in volume

 

Scene iii

(outside Tesco store, Clayton Square)

Yob1 (chant) Who’s got the beer? Bring it over here! (rpt, rpt)

Who’s got the beer? Bring it over here!

Yob2 (aggressive snarl) Drink y’r own f’k’n’ beer, queer!

Drink y’r own f’k’n’ beer, queer!

Yob1 Suck on it, pal!

Suck on it, pal!

Yob2 .............. Yeah?

.............. Yeah?

Yob1 .......... Yeah!

.......... Yeah!

Yob2 ........... an’ whose army?

SFX. Punches exchanged, blows landed, blocked (muffled gasps).
Bottles smashed, fighting breaks out. swift escalation. Two mobs square off. Screams from bystanders caught up in fighting, cries for help, drowned out by rising volume of battle noise.
                                                       Scene iv

Marie
Mum, what’s happening? I can’t see ....... I’m frightened!

Mum
Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll look after you! As far as I can see, we'll be safe inside

the shop while the shutters are down. Nobody can get in for the moment! I'll look

after you ...... [fade]

 

 

                                                   Scene v


External SFX. Emergency, which service do you require?

Emergency, which service do you require?

Terry Terry Allen, Operations Manager, Clayton Square. Police, please.

Terry Allen, Operations Manager, Clayton Square. Police, please.

Ext One moment please
 
[SFX. Ring tone, click. Ext announces to police who is calling, etc.]

One moment please 

Police Go ahead, caller.

Go ahead, caller.

Terry There’s a disturbance at Clayton Square: a large number of youths

There’s a disturbance at Clayton Square: a large number of youths

fighting in front of the big screen.

Police Are you still at the scene, sir?

Are you still at the scene, sir?

Terry Yes. I’m calling from a mobile phone and I have a good view.

Yes. I’m calling from a mobile phone and I have a good view.

Police Are you aware of any injuries?

Are you aware of any injuries?

Terry
The ambulance service will be needed too, I’m sure. Bystanders appear

The ambulance service will be needed too, I’m sure. Bystanders appear

to be taking refuge inside the Centre and in Tesco’s. I’m asking you for

permission to authorise dropping security blinds on all buildings: it will

mean that people inside the stores are safe, but they won’t be able to

leave until the shutters are lifted again.

Police Go ahead, Mr. Allen. Can you get a message to the stores concerned?

Go ahead, Mr. Allen. Can you get a message to the stores concerned?

Terry
Roger that. I’ll use another phone: I’m assuming you want me to keep this

Roger that. I’ll use another phone: I’m assuming you want me to keep this

line open?

Police
Affirmative, Mr. Allen. Please keep us informed of the situation: we will

Affirmative, Mr. Allen. Please keep us informed of the situation: we will

deploy all available manpower immediately. This message timed at 13:05.

[Fade]

Scene vi

 

Yob1 (shout) 'ere’s the Filth! Come ‘ead, then! .....

Kill the coppers! Kill the coppers!

(mob join in. rpt, louder)

Pol off i/c Stand firm! Do not - I repeat, do not return fire!

Stand firm! Do not - I repeat, do return fire!

Close ranks. Deploy shields!

SFX. Clash of shields as the Roman ‘tortoise’ is formed. Sound of missiles thrown, smashing and/or bouncing harmlessly away from the Riot Squad. Batons beat a rhythm on shields, Police advance on combatants. Screams, sounds of destruction. End with sound of electrical discharge as screen takes one final direct hit. [Beat]

Silence, then

Scene vii

Inside Tescos

Marie Mummy, I’m scared!

Mummy, I’m scared!

Mum
The shop shutters are down, now: nobody can get in to hurt you for the

The shop shutters are down, now: nobody can get in to hurt you for the

moment! Now: calm down, and come with me. We should move away

from the door. If we all use a bit of common sense and make room for

the poor people who have had to run in here to escape from what’s

happening outside, there’s plenty of room for everyone!

Marie But what are we going to do?

But wh

Mum
Probably not a lot: I’m sure the Store Manager must have some sort

of plan for how to cope with an emergency in the shop, though ....

did I ever tell you about the time your Daddy and I used to work

in the Civil Defence, before you were born? We learnt how to deal

with unexpected emergencies ....

SFX: soothing sounds, daughter starts to calm down, mother’s story fades

Scene viii

On board Blast Bus, parked at Pier Head

Eddie ’Scuse again, Sir: what’s this?

’Scuse again, Sir: what’s this?

Instructor OB monitors - or Outside Broadcast cameras, if you like.

OB monitors - or Outside Broadcast cameras, if you like.

Eddie No, I mean: what’s happening on this one?
 [beat]

No, I mean: what’s happening on this one? 

Inst
That's the view from a fixed camera in Clayton Square. It records what’s

That's the view from a fixed camera in Clayton Square. It records what’s

happening in what we call "Real Time" - in other words, what you see

is what’s actually happening ..............

Eddie
’Scuse again, Sir: what’s this?

Inst
OB monitors - or Outside Broadcast cameras, if you like. No, I mean: what’s happening on this one?  That's the view from a fixed camera in Clayton Square. It records what's .......

SFX. Interruption caused by a bank of (landline) telephones all starting to ring

Eddie

’Scuse again, Sir: what’s this?

Inst
OB monitors - or Outside Broadcast cameras, if you

like.

Eddie
No, I mean: what’s happening on this one? 

Inst That's the view from a fixed camera

in Clayton Square. It records what's ....... [beat#

Right. This isn’t what was planned, but you guys and gals are going to

have to help me out, here: I’ve only got two volunteer trained staff on the

Bus, and you can see how many ’phones are ringing! You’ll be learning

"on the hoof", so to speak, but that might not be a bad thing! Don’t panic

and we’ll manage! Eddie, I’m promoting you to Team Leader: you other

boys and girls take your lead from him, okay?
 

SFX. Murmurs of agreement, no dissent [beat]

Inst (continues)
One to a phone. Put the headphones on. Press the button

next to the flashing light. You'll be connected automatically: when the caller

puts the phone down it will disconnect. The next call will

be forwarded to the first available line ............ (FADE)

Scene ix

Clayton Sq. o/s Tesco

Yob1 (sings) ’ere we go, ’ere we go .... etc

SFX. Chant grows rapidly, with mixed clapping, jeering. Other crowd noises.

Sound of weapons, cans rattling, bottles smashing, sticks beating etc. Volume increases rapidly.

PolCom Control, this is Romeo Sierra One: reinforcements requested. Over

Control, this is Romeo Sierra One: reinforcements requested. Over

Ctrl Romeo Sierra One. Message received and understood. Relayed to

Romeo Sierra One. Message received and understood. Relayed to

Charlie Papa. Over

PolCom Understood Control. Over and Out

Understood Control. Over and Out
SFX. Fade crowd noises, overlay rhythmic beat of police batons on

shields, marching steps, cadenced "one-two" count [Fade]

Scene x

Blast bus, Pier Head (interior)

 

Inst
That’s good, Eddie: now zoom the camera in a little more .........

That’s good, Eddie: now zoom the camera in a little more .........

Good, you’re getting the hang of it! See what’s happening?

Eddie The police are using their shields ..........

The police are using their shields ..........

Inst Yes, it’s an old idea from the Roman army .........

Yes, it’s an old idea from the Roman army .........

Clare Isn’t it called the Tortoise - or something like that?

Isn’t it called the Tortoise - or something like that?

Inst
That’s right: see how everything just bounced off it? And if you

That’s right: see how everything just bounced off it? And if you

pan the camera slightly further away, towards Williamson Square,

you’ll see more police approaching. The people fighting won’t have

noticed them yet - at least, we have to hope they haven’t!

Eddie So they’ll be trapped, with nowhere to go ......... ?

So they’ll be trapped, with nowhere to go ......... ?

Inst
Yes: and the CCTV footage will be important evidence when

Yes: and the CCTV footage will be important evidence when

the case comes to court! Make sure the cameras get everything that

happens! I’ll put one of my assistants at your elbow to keep an eye

on things, but you started this and I won’t deny you the pleasure of

seeing it through to an end! [Fade]

Scene xi

Courtroom. Summing up & verdict

 

Usher All rise. The Defendants will stand. [beat]

All rise. The Defendants will stand.

Judge
Patrick Gilman, Callum Hanlon. The jury has found you both

Patrick Gilman, Callum Hanlon. The jury has found you both

guilty of the charges brought against you. It is now my duty to

pass sentence, and specify an appropriate minimum tariff. You

are both just old enough to be tried in the County Court (as opposed

to a Juvenile court) and I have allowed for this fact. I have also given

credit for the fact that you have pleaded (at the first opportunity) guilty

to some of the charges brought against you. These will lie on record

for a period of two years, and you may be sentenced for them should you

re-offend during the next two years.

SFX. [beat] Background murmurs of surprise/impatience from "Gallery".

Judge (continues)
You have pleaded Guilty to charges of: Assault, causing Actual Bodly Harm; Disorderly Conduct; Underage Drinking; Public Disorder; Carriage and Use of Illegal Weapons; Incitement to Riot.

You have chosen to plead Not Guilty to a further charge, that of

Littering. From the CCTV evidence offered by the police in support of

this charge, I am satisfied that you were both de facto guilty of the

offence, and your sentence is as follows:

The maximum penalty for littering is fifty hours of unpaid community

service. However, your ages once more allow scope for mitigation.

I have listened to the arguments put forward on your behalf by your

Counsel, and after careful deliberation I have decided that you deserve

to be given the opportunity to prove your willingness to repay your

debt to society.

I order that you be served with a formal written caution and undertake

to attend a course of Anger Management therapy sessions. You will

report to your nearest police station once a fortnight and sign a formal

declaration of Good Conduct, which will be witnessed by your Youth

Exclusion Officer, Social Worker, or other appropriate adult.

I award out-of-pocket travel and subsistence costs to the Defendants.

Prosecution applications for Loss of Earnings, Damages and other

compensation claims are denied, on the grounds that, given their ages,

it would not be in the best interests of the Defendants to burden them

with any sum in the magnitude suggested, as they are both registered

unemployed and unable to raise funds from any other sources.

The Defendants are to be bound over to keep the peace.

Case closed.

Finis